Report: Hiroshi Tanahashi Wants AEW World Championship Match If He Beats Chris Jericho

Since Chris Jericho returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling in November 2017, he has competed sporadically in the Japanese promotion.

His most recent match in NJPW was at Dominion in a losing effort to IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada. After the match, Jericho continued to attack The Rainmaker before Hiroshi Tanahashi made the save.

Now, Jericho and Tanahashi will go one on one on January 5th at Wrestle Kingdom 14.

The eight-time IWGP Heavyweight champion recently did an interview with Tokyo Sports, in which he declared that if he beat Jericho, he would want to face him for the AEW World Championship.

The article also hints at a possible future relationship between AEW and NJPW.

"Hiroshi Tanahashi, 43, who will face Chris Jericho (49) at the Tokyo Dome on January 5 next year, put his hand on the forbidden door. Before the match against the world superstar, he focused on the AEW World Championship held by Jericho. There is a possibility that a major change will come to the relationship between the US organisation and New Japan Pro Wrestling, which launched in May...Jericho, who competed for the IWGP heavyweight title against Kazuchika Okada in June, now holds the AEW belt, which ignites Tanahashi's fighting spirit. 'You're the champion over there, aren't you? If I win and the other side says One more time,' you can say, 'If you want to put a belt on it. Then the forbidden door will open.'"